Ben
“Jolie!” I roar, shoving the door with my shoulder and trying to open it again. “Fuck you, lock!” I shout, slapping my hand on the wood when I hear her cry out again.
Fuck.
“Get your hands off her!” I bellow, hopelessly trying the locked handle.
I’m a desperate man.
“Oh shit, my key card only gets me into the building. I don’t have access to the offices on this floor.” The lady who reluctantly let us in sounds just as scared as I feel.
A crash from inside makes us all flinch.
“Jolie!” I throw my shoulder against the door.
“I’m calling the police.” Caroline pulls out her phone while Casey starts helping me get through this fucking door.
“Together. Ready? One, two, three!” We throw our weight into it, and it starts to crack.
“Again, again!” I shout, and Casey counts us down.
A dull pain radiates through my shoulder the second time, so on the third attempt, we use our legs, kicking at the door until it splinters and finally pops open.
I burst into the office space, my eyes scanning the room in a wild panic.
“Jolie!” I shout, but I don’t get a reply. “Jolie!” Bolting forward, I round the desk and am blinded by a red haze that pulls a raging growl out of my body.
Kieran’s got her on the floor, straddling her hips. His hands are around her throat. Her face is bright red, her legs flailing beneath him as she tries to claw at his choke hold.
“Get off her!” I roar, grabbing the back of his jacket and pulling him away.
He flies backward and crashes into one of the tall tables behind us while Jolie gasps and coughs, rolling onto her side and sucking in air.
“You nearly killed her!” I yell at him.
He blinks, flinching at my voice, like he’s just coming to. I’m too enraged to care that he looks as though he didn’t even know what he was doing. Like he was so blinded by panic or anger or whatever the fuck it was that he was oblivious to the fact that he was killing my woman!
“You fuck!” I launch my fist at his face.
It fucking hurts as my knuckles connect with his cheekbone, but there’s a sick satisfaction riding through me when his head snaps back and he reels sideways, stumbling on his feet. So I grab him again and punch him even harder.
He stumbles even farther this time, and Casey steps forward, fisting his shirt with a growl and thrusting a fist into his stomach.
The guy lurches forward, groaning as he buckles over, and I spin to check on Jolie.
“Baby.” I crouch down beside her.
She’s still on the floor, a protective hand over her neck as she keeps sucking in mouthfuls of air, then hacking them back out again. Her body is trembling with tears. She’s pale, her glassy eyes wide with terror.
I gently pull her hand away, my insides writhing at the red marks on her neck.
“It’s okay.” My voice cracks. “He’s not gonna touch you again. You’re safe now. I’m here.” I glide my hand up to gently cup her cheek. “I’m here.”
She whimpers, reaching for my saturated sweater and curling her fingers into it.
When she starts to pull herself up, I scoop her into my arms and stand tall, cradling her against me and carrying her away from Casey and the blubbering mess on the floor beside him.
Kieran’s keening like a wounded animal, and I have zero sympathy for him.
His life is over.
As it should be.
“The drive,” Jolie rasps. “It’s in his office. It’s got everything on it.” She starts crying, her words getting lost to her tears.
“Shhh, it’s okay. We’ll deal with that later.” I squeeze her to me, walking past Caroline, who’s still on the phone.
Ducking her head into the crook of my neck, Jolie hides herself away, and I walk her out of the office and find a small waiting area around the corner. Sitting on the couch outside the student council office, I nestle her on my lap and pull her as close as I can.
She curls her legs up, a shudder running through her as she clings to my neck.
I wrap my arms around her and cling right back.
Shit. I could have lost her tonight.
The thought is harrowing, and I close my eyes against the wave of emotion that’s trying to take me out.